Modified Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate autonomic modulation after bench press with and without blood flow restriction (BFR). Sixteen men had their autonomic modulation assessed at rest, 15 (Rec1), and 25 (Rec2) minutes after three different conditions: low-intensity exercise with BFR (LI-BFR), high-intensity exercise (HI), and a control (CON). Autonomic modulation consisted of vagal tone, sympathetic modulation and sympathovagal balance. There was a significant condition by time interaction for vagal tone such that it was reduced at Rec1 and Rec2 after LI-BFR and HI compared to Rest and CON. There was a main effect of time for sympathovagal balance such that it was increased at Rec1 and Rec2 compared to Rest. These data suggest that LI-BFR and HI similarly alter autonomic modulation.